Clarkston girls track coach Jamie LaBrosse has a lot on his plate this spring and his team will be carrying a target on itself throughout the spring.
LaBrosse, who is making his debut as girls track coach, but takes with him years of cross country coach experience and a state title with his girls, is making the adjustment to head coach this season. He takes over for the retired Gordie Richardson.
‘It’s a lot of work,? he said. ‘Just logistically, setting up meets, events, scheduling, dealing with issues, the paperwork, it’s just a lot of work.?
Thankfully, LaBrosse is assisted by several other coaches including Marley Brown, who will help with the distance runners, John Yorke, whose duties include sprinters and hurdlers and Noah Sharrow, who will oversee relays and the long jump.
This year’s team has 65 athletes, the biggest group in LaBrosse’s six years with the program. He is excited about this year’s group, which he called probably the most talented group of kids he’s seen during his coaching stay. But now the problem is, how to keep 65 talented athletes all happy.
‘Sure, it’s nice (having a big turnout), but it’s tough to make everyone happy,? he said. ‘We really want to get some B-team kids in at some meets too. Those kids deserve to run.?
The Wolves are coming off a very successful season last year where they went 5-1 in dual meets and won the OAA I, county and regional. The Wolves sent the 4×800 relay team of Mo Kuhta, Gillian Nordquist, Liz Mengyan and Lindsay Smith to the state meet, where that group placed third. Teams competing with Clarkston within the league are Rochester Adams, Troy, Rochester, Pontiac Northern, West Bloomfield and Lake Orion.
This year’s team is captained by senior Megan Garrett, junior Jill Kouri, Kuhta, Mengyan and junior miler Anne Oltman. LaBrosse also expects big things from Elizabeth Gorz in the 800, Beith Hoekstra in the 4×800 and the mile, Jill Kouri, one of several basketball players to join the team this year who he says should excel in high jump, Elle Kuhta in the two-mile, Jenna Leach in the mile, Melissa Martinez in sprints, Stephanie Parkin in the hurdles and milers Lisa Sickman and Lyndsay Smith.
‘There’ll be a target on us all year, they’ll just have to live up to it,? LaBrosse said. ‘Early in the season, I think our distance will be our strength, but coach Yorke is doing a great job with our sprinters and I think they can really do some damage when it comes time for regionals.?
LaBrosse said an excellent mid-season measuring stick of his team will be at the Don Mitchell Memorial, April 30. The meet is held in Dayton, Ohio and is a good opportunity for what he called his higher level athletes.
‘It’s a great opportunity for our upper level kids,? he said. ‘There are still a lot of openings, but they have to earn the right to go there.?
Clarkston’s next meet is April 6, a scrimmage featuring Waterford Mott and Stoney Creek. This year’s state finals will be held in Rockford, who coincidentally was the traditional state powerhouse in girls cross country until LaBrosse led his girls to a state title. He’s like nothing more than to do some more damage there this spring.
‘We want to bring varying events this year. We don’t just want to rely on our distance all the time. We want to go to states. But we just don’t want to get there. We want to compete and do well.?